Author: Shihong Zheng

Purpose

In contemporary society, people are always caught up in various society issues. With the purpose of mitigating conflicts, various mediums are employed to redirect and reshape public attention. Among these, documentary animation emerges as a dynamic medium which includes the elements of both documentary film and animation features. Additionally, animation is highly regarded for its ability to broaden and enrich documentary expression.

However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the inherent tendency towards exaggeration features in animation that can not reflect social issues properly, some critics argue that this exaggerated feature might not be the most effective means of accurately portraying social issues.

For this critical report, I want to in-depth explore the impact of documentary animation on individuals. The main question being considered is whether documentary animations are a property way to positively reflect social conflicts. This report aims to discuss the potential benefits of documentary animation by using multiple examples.

Key words

Documentary Animation, Social Conflicts, Societal Issues, Positive Reflection, Social Commentary, Animation as Communication

Bibliography

Gregg, R., 2011. Environmental Documentary Film: A Contemporary Tool For Social Movement.

Rajala, A., 2017. Documentary Film, Truth and Beyond: On the Problems of Documentary Film as Truth-telling.

Nagao, M., 2018. The possibility of documentation through animation: A comparative study of the animated short Pica-Don and other artworks addressing social/historical issues. Animation Practice, Process & Production, 7(1), pp.67-89.

The film I choose is Coco(2017)

Story Arc Breakdown (The 8 Stages):

1. Stasis:Miguel, the protagonist, is living in a family that forbids music due to a past incident involving his great-great-grandfather.
2. Trigger:Miguel’s passion for music leads him to discover a family secret, triggering his desire to pursue his musical dreams.
3. Quest:Miguel embarks on a journey to the Land of the Dead to seek the blessing of his deceased great-great-grandfather and gain permission to pursue music.
4. Surprise:In the Land of the Dead, Miguel discovers unexpected connections to his family’s history and encounters challenges related to the importance of remembering one’s ancestors.
5. Critical Choice:Miguel faces a critical decision: to prioritize family expectations or follow his passion for music and uncover the truth about his great-great-grandfather.
6. Climax:The climax revolves around Miguel’s performance at the Day of the Dead talent show and his revelation about his great-great-grandfather’s true identity.
7. Reversal:Miguel’s understanding of family, tradition, and music undergoes a profound transformation. He learns the importance of balance and honoring both family and personal dreams.
8. Resolution:The film concludes with Miguel mending family relationships, reconciling with his passion for music, and creating a harmonious blend of tradition and individuality.

Character Archetypes:

1. The Hero (Miguel):Embarks on a quest to pursue his musical dreams and uncover family secrets.
2. The Mentor (Héctor):Guides and assists Miguel in navigating the Land of the Dead, providing insights into family history.
3. The Threshold Guardian (Mama Imelda):Represents family traditions and initially opposes Miguel’s pursuit of music.
4. The Ally (Dante):Miguel’s loyal companion in the Land of the Dead, aiding him on his journey.
5. The Herald (The discovery of the family secret):Triggers Miguel’s quest by revealing the connection between him and his great-great-grandfather.
6. The Shapeshifter (Ernesto de la Cruz):Initially appears as a supportive figure but is later revealed to have a darker side.
7. The Shadow (Family’s opposition to music):Represents the obstacles and challenges Miguel faces in pursuing his passion for music.
8. The Herald (The revelation about great-great-grandfather):Marks a significant turning point in the story, influencing Miguel’s critical choice.

Timeline for Miguel:

1. Before the Film:Miguel lives in a family that forbids music, following a past incident involving his great-great-grandfather abandoning the family for a musical career.
2. Film Start:Miguel discovers a family secret that reveals his great-great-grandfather’s true identity as a famous musician.
3. Journey to the Land of the Dead:Miguel accidentally enters the Land of the Dead on Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and seeks the blessing of his great-great-grandfather to pursue music.
4. Encounters and Challenges:Miguel encounters challenges related to family expectations, the importance of remembering ancestors, and understanding his family’s history.
5. Critical Decision:Miguel faces a crucial decision to prioritize family or pursue his passion for music and discover the truth about his great-great-grandfather.
6. Climax:The climax involves Miguel’s performance at the talent show, where he uncovers the truth and confronts the challenges of family and music.
7. Transformation:Miguel undergoes a transformation in understanding the importance of family, tradition, and individual dreams.
8. Resolution:The film concludes with Miguel mending family relationships, honoring tradition, and embracing his love for music in harmony with his family’s values.

In this lesson we learned the key principles in animation production. Firstly, the importance of animation layout and composition is emphasized, especially in character placement and scene composition, including the use of camera angles, perspective, light and shadow, character dynamics, entrance methods and audio. Secondly, the principles used in designing different shots are discussed, including the correlation of long, medium and close shots, and the importance of emphasizing picture flow, timing and visual objectives, while focusing on the potential impact of shot selection on production. Finally, it focuses on the importance of background and scene, including the harmony of aesthetics and characters, the beauty of the background, complexity and clutter, the design and action to avoid distraction, and the proportion of subject objects. Overall, these principles play a key role in animation production, ensuring that the audience’s concerns are properly directed to create a more engaging and coherent animation.

1. Definition of Screen Direction:
   • Screen direction refers to the perceived movement of actors or objects on the screen from the camera or audience’s perspective.
2. Rules of Continuity and Film Grammar:
   • The rules of screen direction are fundamental in continuity film editing and film grammar to maintain consistency during shot transitions and avoid audience confusion.
3. Camera Positioning and Movement:
   • Camera positioning and movement must adhere to the rules of screen direction. “Camera left” or “frame left” indicates movement towards the left side of the screen, while “camera right” or “frame right” refers to movement towards the right side.
4. Pre-determination in Pre-production:
   • Screen direction decisions are primarily made during pre-production, specifically in storyboarding and animatic production stages, to ensure precision in scene timing and flow.
5. Maintenance of Screen Direction:
   • Once established, screen direction must be maintained in each progressive shot. This includes the direction in which performers move, face, or look, even when they are not in motion.
6. Tools for Maintaining Screen Direction:
   • The Imaginary Line, Axis of Action, or 180-Degree Rule is a key tool used by filmmakers to maintain consistent screen direction. This involves drawing an imaginary line through subjects in the direction they move or face.
7. Working Example:
   • An example illustrates how shots filmed from the same side of the imaginary line cut together seamlessly, preserving consistent screen direction and matching eye lines.
8. Challenges and Audience Confusion:
   • When screen direction is not adhered to, it can lead to challenges such as actors appearing not to face each other in conversation or changing direction abruptly, resulting in audience confusion.
9. Subject Movement Across the Screen:
   • Subjects are free to travel cross-screen, toward or away from the camera, as long as the camera doesn’t cross the action axis. This ensures directional movement integrity.